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Urrutia impressing in small sample with O's

Urrutia impressing in small sample with O's

7/25/13: Henry Urrutia laces a line drive to right field off Jeremy Guthrie and hustles around the bases to record his first career triple

By Brittany Ghiroli
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MLB.com |

KANSAS CITY -- Orioles outfielder Henry Urrutia collected his first Major League hit in his debut last Friday, but the 26-year-old Cuban didn't keep the ball. Instead, he gave it to a close friend who helped him finally get to the United States in February.

Urrutia, who wouldn't divulge the recipient's name, has impressed teammates and the coaching staff with his mature approach at the plate in his first week. And with the Orioles in the midst of a four-game stretch against right-handed starters, he's gotten an opportunity to get some consistent at-bats.

"He doesn't look out of place at all," manager Buck Showalter said of Urrutia, who entered Thursday's game 5-for-16 with two RBIs. "[Triple-A Norfolk manager] Ron Johnson had a great description he said, 'He fills up the batter's box.' You look forward to seeing him hit. I think as he gets his feet more on the ground, I think he's going to be a contributor for us. He handles himself well. Some new things for him, one pinch-hitting some and two, DH'ing is probably a little new to him."

While Showalter wouldn't rule out using Urrutia in the outfield, the skipper said there are no immediate plans for Urrutia to get a start in the field, citing the DH role as the thing that "best fits" the club right now.

Urrutia has been accompanied by Minor League instructor Ramon Sambo -- who has served as a translator on the team's road trip -- and said his early experiences in the Orioles' clubhouse has him already feeling "like family" among his new teammates.

As for his approach at the plate, Urrutia said, "It's something I have been working on. To try to calm down. I am anxious and still trying to prove what I can do. I'm aggressive, but I'm trying to be patient. I've been working really hard on going up there with no plan. Sometimes with a plan, but able to change it depending on what [pitchers] do."